Comparison of florfenicol pharmacokinetics in Exopalaemon carinicauda at different temperatures and administration routes.

Florfenicol is a broad-spectrum antibacterial drug. Exopalaemon carinicauda is important in the prawn aquaculture industry in China. Florfenicol pharmacokinetics in E. carinicauda were studied at different temperatures and via different routes of administration to provide a scientific basis for the rational use of drugs for E. carinicauda production. At water temperatures of 22 ± 0.4°C and 28 ± 0.3°C, after intramuscular (IM) injection and oral (per ora (PO)) administration of florfenicol at 10 mg/kg body weight (BW) and 30 mg/kg BW, respectively, the florfenicol concentration in the plasma, hepatopancreas, gills, muscles, and carapace of E. carinicauda was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. After IM injection at different temperatures, the metabolism of florfenicol in E. carinicauda conformed to a two-compartment open model with zero-order absorption. After PO administration, the metabolism of florfenicol in E. carinicauda was consistent with a two-compartment open model with first-order absorption. Using an identical administration route but different water temperatures, the metabolism of florfenicol in E. carinicauda was quite different. Overall, florfenicol was absorbed rapidly and distributed widely in E. carinicauda, but elimination was slow and the bioavailability was not high. A low temperature and PO administration resulted in a low elimination rate.